Phentermine

Generic name: Phentermine

Usage of Phentermine

Phentermine is used to speed weight loss in overweight people. It is used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity, especially in people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Phentermine is similar to an amphetamine. It stimulates the central nervous system (nerves and brain), which increases your heart rate and blood pressure and decreases your appetite.

Phentermine belongs to a class of medications called anorectics. It works by reducing your appetite.

Phentermine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to phentermine: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Phentermine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

chest pain, feeling like you might pass out;

swelling in your ankles or feet;

pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

tremors, feeling restless, trouble sleeping;

unusual changes in mood or behavior; or

increased blood pressure - severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.

Common side effects of phentermine may include:

itching;

dizzinessheadache;

dry mouth;

unpleasant taste;

diarrhea;

constipation;

stomach pain; or

increased or decreased interest in sex.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Phentermine

You should not use phentermine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

a history of heart disease (coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, congestive heart failure, stroke);

severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

overactive thyroid;

glaucoma;

extreme agitation or nervousness;

a history of drug abuse; or

if you take other diet pills.

Do not use phentermine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

Weight loss during pregnancy can harm an unborn baby, even if you are overweight. Do not use phentermine if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

heart disease or coronary artery disease;

a heart valve disorder;

high blood pressure;

diabetes (your diabetes medication dose may need to be adjusted); or

kidney disease.

Phentermine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 16 years old.

How to use Phentermine

Usual Adult Dose for Obesity:

8 mg orally 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals, OR 15 to 37.5 mg orally once a day before breakfast or 1 to 2 hours after breakfast. Use: Short-term (a few weeks) adjunct in a regimen of weight reduction based on exercise, behavioral modification, and caloric restriction in the management of exogenous obesity in patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater, or BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater in the presence of other risk factors (e.g., controlled hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia).

Usual Pediatric Dose for Obesity:

Age 17 Years and Older: 8 mg orally 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals, OR 15 to 37.5 mg orally once a day before breakfast or 1 to 2 hours after breakfast. Use: Short-term (a few weeks) adjunct in a regimen of weight reduction based on exercise, behavioral modification, and caloric restriction in the management of exogenous obesity in patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater, or BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater in the presence of other risk factors (e.g., controlled hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia).

Warnings

Do not use phentermine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding a baby.

You should not use phentermine if you have glaucoma, overactive thyroid, severe heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, advanced coronary artery disease, extreme agitation, or a history of drug abuse.

Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine. A dangerous drug interaction could occur.

What other drugs will affect Phentermine

Taking phentermine together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen) or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take phentermine with any other diet medications without your doctor's advice.

Many drugs can interact with phentermine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.